Hard Hitting Lancers Fall Shy on Final Day of Spring Break

Worcester, MA- In the final day of Spring Break action, the Lancers softball team (5-2, 0-0) would wrap it up with a New York battle as they took on Clarkson and Buffalo State. After splitting yesterday, Worcester is looking to get back to their winning ways before starting the rest of the regular schedule back in New England.

FInal

Game 1

Worcester State: 6

Clarkson: 7

Game 2

Worcester State: 2

Buffalo State: 5

How it Happened:

It was a chilly and windy start to the day that led to hits abounding in game one versus Clarkson. Worcester would jump out to an early lead. A start off double from senior Emma Lanpher (Charlton, MA) would put a runner on base while junior Morgan Keefe's (Dracut, MA) single to center would lead to a run in the first. Clarkson would balance the challenge with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning but it would quickly be negated in the second when Keefe would again go to center, this time for a double, that would find fellow juniors Camden Heenan (Webster, MA) and Emma Lapoint (Westfield, MA) crossing home plate for a 3-1 Lancer lead. Junior Bella Gasbarro (Leominster, MA) singled to center which would allow Keefe the chance to make the game 4-1 in Worcester's favor. A huge two run homer from Heenan in the top of the third would push the lead to 6-1 before Clarkson began to mount their comeback in the bottom of the third with a three run homer of their own. Worcester would attempt to slow down their counter but as the wind picked up and the outfield started to feel shorter and shorter, the Golden Knights capitalized on some well placed hits and some base running flubs by Worcester to snag a 7-6 victory in game one action. 

The action in the second game would be a complete opposite from the first as it would take until the fourth inning for any real action and scoring to get started. Buffalo State would open up at the top of the inning but Worcester would quickly respond. Lapoint would nail a single that was then moved to second off a Keefe bunt before a gutted out double from senior Abigail Koziol (Lunenburg, MA) would send her home. With additional work from Gasbarro and a walk on junior Amanda Adamuska (Dudley, MA) would find the bases loaded with one out. The Lancers would strive to find a gap for a single and another run but the Buffalo State defense was on their marks to prevent any further damage. 

While runs were hard to come by to start the game more contact was found in the fifth as Buffalo jumped out to a 3-1 lead and put the pressure to match on Worcester. Keefe would lay down a sacrifice hit down the first to allow Lanpher to record run two from her position on third. 

The Bengals would tack on an additional two runs at the top of the sixth to push their lead out to 5-2 as Worcester worked to find some gaps and move their way back into the game. Worcester would give it their all but were just unable to find the runs that were so plentiful in the first game, falling 5-2.

What's Next:

Worcester State will return to action at home on Tuesday when they meet Clark for a double header set to start at 4pm.